Trigger and release means for bows



19,1969 1.. F. BROTHERS 3,461,852

TRIGGER AND amass usms FOR..BOWS

Filed July 15, 1966 v 3 Sheets S heet 1 Aug. 19, 1969 L. F. BROTHERS TRIGGER um RELEASE mum's FOR BOWS j Filed July 1:, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 19, '1969 L. F. BRQf-HERS 3,461,852

TRIGGER AND RELEASE MEANS FOR BOWS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13. 1966 United States Patent 3,461,852 TRIGGER AND RELEASE MEANS FOR BOWS Lewis F. Brothers, 302 S. Centerville Road, Sturgis, Mich. 49091 Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,939 Int. Cl. F41b /00, 5/02 US. Cl. 124-35 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An archery device in which the bowstring and the arrow are releasably held by a support member so that the bowstring can be manually pulled in order to tension same. A latch is provided to releasably retain the support member in the holding position and the latch can be actuated by contraction of the users hand in order to release the support member and free the arrow and the bowstring.

This invention relates to an archery device.

The main objectives of this invention are:v

First, to provide an archery device which is shaped and dimensioned so that manipulatable portions thereof are disposed in the hand of the user when the device is in use position.

Second, to provide a bow and arrow support means which are released merely by a clamping motion of the fingers between which the body member is disposed.

Third, to provide an archery device having these advantages which is compact .and of little weight but is strong and durable.

Fourth, to provide an archery device having those advantages with means for attaching or connecting to the hand ofthe user so that the device is suspended when the user releases his grasp of the device.

Fifth,.to provide an archery device, having these advantages and uses, which is convenient to use and may be used with bows of vari'ous'sizes and tensions.

Further objectives and objects relating to the structural details will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view of a bow and arrow with an archery device embodying my invention in use position relative to the bow and arrow and to the hand of the user, parts being shown conventionally.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of the parts shown in FIGURE 1, with the bowstring released and the arrow omitted.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the inside of the hand of the user with the device in release suspended position when the user (as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2) has released his grasp of the device. I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side view of the device in set position with the hand-engaging strap portion, illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, partially broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device with the bow and arrow supporting and coupling means in released position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view mainly in longitudinal section, with the bow and arrow clip or coupling member in its erected position as illustrated in FIG' URE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view mainly in longitudinal section in a line corresponding to line 77 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged front elevational view.

In the accompanying drawings users hands 1 and 2 are in use position illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. A how 3 and its string 4 are conventionally illustrated in "ice FIGURES 1 and 2. Arrow 5 is conventionally illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The structural details of the bow and arrow are not illustrated as the device is adapted to use with various types of bows and arrows which are in commercial production.

The body member 6 is of such dimension that it is disposed between the fingers of the operator and it has a rodlike cross piece 7 disposed through an outwardly projecting portion 8 adjacent its forward end. This rod 7 constitutes a finger piece with which the fingers of the operator are engaged as is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 with the body member between fingers as illustrated. The sides of the body member 6 are desirably flat and parallel. The top portion 9 is desirably flat and a fiat bottom portion 10 is provided.

At its forward end, the body member has a longitudina slot-like recess 11 open .at its forward end providing parallel portions 12 (see FIGURES 6 and 7).

The body member also has a longitudinal bore extending from the rear end of the body member to the recess in its front end (see FIGURES 6 and 7). The bowstring-engaging and arrow-supporting member 14 is pivotally mounted at .15 to the side portions of the recess so that it may swing to an upright or erected position as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 or to a bowstring releasing position as shown in FIGURE 5.

Member 14 1 is provided with a transverse slot 16 adapted to receive the bowstring 4 and a longitudinal slot 16a crossing the slot 16 for receiving the notched end of the arrow 5 as is indicated in FIGURE 4.

The bowstring-engaging member 14 is provided with .an arrow clip 17 desirably formed of springable wire and having upwardly projecting laterally spaced projections 17 at its outer end adapted to receive an arrow when it is presented sidewise thereto and it supports the arrow with its inner end in engagement with the bowstring as is illustrated in the drawing.

The bowstring and arrow support member 14 is re leasably held in erected position as is illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 6 by means of the latch 18 which is disposed in the recess in the body member and is pivotally connected thereto at 19. The latch 18 has an upwardly projecting armlike portion 20 engaging the inner wall of the slot of the body member as is illustrated in FIGURE 6. This latch is yieldingly held in its position to hold the string-engaging member in accurate position by means of the spring 21 which engages portion 20 as is illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. This spring 21 has its inner end portion secured to the body member by means of the screws 22.

The member 14 has a return spring 23 attached thereto at 24. This spring engages a lug 25 on the body member as is illustrated in FIGURE 6. With this arrangement the line and arrow-engaging member is returned to its erected position, after it has been released, to receive the latch member. 18. The releasing rod 26 is reciprocatingly mounted in the bore 13 and is provided with a cross piece 27 at its exterior end which engages the palm of the users hand desirably adjacent the thumb as is illustrated in the drawing. This latch release member 26 is provided with a slot 28 (see FIGURE 6) the ends of which serve as stops coacting with inner end 29 of one of the screws 22.

With this arrangement when it is desired to release the bowstring and arrow-engaging member 14, the fingers grasping the finger piece 7 are moved inwardly with the result that the body member 6 is pulled inwardly of the hand along the releasing rod 26 thereby swinging the latch member 18 to its released position as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

After the bowstring has been released, and the thrust on the rod 26 is released, the member 14 is returned to its set position by the spring 23 so that it may be engaged by the holder member 18.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I provide means for suspending the structure as a unit from the hand of the user when the grasp of the body member is released as is illustrated in FIGURE 3.

This suspending means comprises a looped hand embracing strap 30, preferably of elastic material which has openings 31 in its ends slideably engaged with the rod 26 between the rear end of the body member and the thrust piece 27. With this arrangement, when the user releases his grasp of the body member, it swings to a downward suspended position as is illustrated in FIG- URE 3. This prevents the necessity for holding or placing the unit in the pocket or on a holder, but retains it conveniently for readjustment to use position. The strap 30 not only serves to prevent loss and prevent the necessity for holding or storing the unit when not in use but it also serves to properly position the hand piece 27 to facilitate the grasping for use. It is only necessary to swing the body member into position permitting the clasping of the body member and its cross piece 27 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

As stated, the bow and arrow are conventionally illustrated as my device is adapted for use with various types of bows and arrows. The complete unit is compact and conveniently grasped.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate and describe other modifications or adaptations of my invention as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

What is claimed is:

1. An archery device, comprising:

a body member having a longitudinal bore there through;

a rod slideably mounted within said bore and having a portion disposed outside of the bore and adapted for manual engagement so that said rod can be moved within said bore with respect to said body member;

a bowstring and arrow support member movably mounted on said body member for movement between a holding position in which a bowstring and an arrow are releasably held in fixed position relative to the body member and a release position in which the bowstring and the arrow are free to move away from said body member;

a latch movably mounted on said body member for engaging and normally maintaining said support member in said holding position, said latch being coupled to said rod so that said latch is moved in response to movement of said rod to a position in which said support member is free to move to said release position.

2. The devise defined in claim 1 including a flexible hand-engaging strap swingably connected to said body member and acting to support it from the hand of the user .as a unit when the user releases hold thereof.

3. An archery device according to claim 1, in which one end of said support member has an outwardly open slot therein for receiving the bowstring, and resilient means normally maintaining said support member in an upright holding position in which said one end of said support member is uppermost.

4. An archery device according to claim 1, in which said support member has an arrow clip mounted thereon, said arrow clip having a pair of spaced-apart legs between which the arrow can be gripped, said arrow clip being made of a resiliently flexible material.

5. An archery device according to claim 1, in which said latch is pivotally mounted on said body member between one end of said rod and said support member, said latch having a first leg with a recess therein for removably receiving a portion of said support member, said latch having a second leg positioned to abut against one end of said rod.

6. An archery device according to claim 5, in which a leaf spring is secured to said body member and bears against said first leg of said latch for resiliently urging said latch into engagement with said support member.

7. An archery device according to claim 1, in which said body member is an elongated body having laterally projecting finger pieces near one end thereof and said portion of said rod projects from the other end of said body member for engagement with the palm of the hand of the user.

8. An archery device according to claim 7, in which said body member has a longitudinal recess in said one end thereof, said support member being pivotally mounted in said recess and spaced from said bore, said support member being a generally planar vertically elongated member having a slot which opens through one longitudinal end thereof, said slot being positioned in an upright position when said support member is in said holding position, said latch being pivotally mounted and disposed in said recess and extending between said support member and said rod.

9. An archery device according to claim 8, in which said recess is open at the top and .at the bottom thereof, said support member projecting through the top of said recess when same is in said holding position, said latch being movable through the bottom of said recess when it moves away from said support member.

10. An archery device, comprising:

a body member;

an actuating member movably mounted on said body member and having a portion adapted for manual engagement for moving said actuating member with respect to said body member;

a bowstring and arrow support member movably mounted on said body member, said support member having a slot for receiving a bowstring and having an arrow clip comprised of a pair of spacedapart resiliently flexible legs between which the arrow can be gripped, said support member being movable between a holding position in which a bowstring and an arrow are releasably held in fixed position relative to the body member and a release position in which the bowstring and the arrow are free to move away from said body member; and

a latch movably mounted on said body member for engaging and normally maintaining said support member in said holding position, said latch being operatively associated with said actuating member so that said latch is moved in response to movement of said actuating member to a position in which said support member is free to move to said release position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,159 6/1925 Maxwell 12435 2,962,197 11/1960 Spangler 224-28 2,000,015 5/ 1935 Flury 124--35 2,417,791 3/1947 Tyszkiewicz 12435 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 124-41 

